Hay-divider and track-clearer.



PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

s. F. HUDSON. HAY DIVIDER AND TRACK GLEARBR.

APPLIUATION FILED SBPT.15, 1904.

tile. 783,957.

Miran mares Patented February 28, 19055.

HAY-DltlllDElF-t AND TRACK-"()LEAREW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,957, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed September 15, 1904. Serial No. 224,566.

To all 'u/hrrm/ {it In/my (so/worm:

Be it known that l, SIDNEY F. Henson, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Venatchee, in the county of Ohelon and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Hay-Dividers and 'lrack-(llearers; and .i do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip-' tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in hay-dividers and track-cleaners.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction oi rods or bars which are adapted to be positioned upon the outer end of a sickle-bar for providing means for dividing mown grass ironi that uncut and also for cleaning the track by removing the cut from the standing grass.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means upon the shoe of a sickle-bar for separating and turning the standing and also the cutgrass when a mower is in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the improvmnent oi' the construction oi? a simple, durable, and inexpensive dividing and cleaning rod employed in the construction of a dividing and cleaning device, which is to be removably connected to a sickle-bar ol a mowin g-macl 1 inc.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of i is a sectional view of the shoe, taken on line a (1, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by reference-1mmerals, l designates a sickle-bar, upon the outer end of which is secured a shoe 2. Shoe .2 is provided with integral dividing and trackcleaning rod retaining means.

} The integral divid ing and track-cleaning rod retaining means comprises in its construction an upper integral curved flange portion 3, which is adapted to engage a portion of the dividing and traclvcleaning rod 4-. An integral flange or angular extension 5 is formed upon the shoe 2 contiguous to the integral portion 3.

The extension 5 projects at 6 beyond the upper rear portion of the shoe 2 and is curved upwardly at 7. The rod 4 is 'iositioned between the two integral extensions 3 and 5 and ispositively secured in such position by means of rivets 8 or the like.

A bifurcated or pronged plate 9 is secured to shoe 2, said plate 9 being provided with a dividing or drag board 10. A dividing and track-cleaning rod 4i is removably positioned in an apertured portion 11. oi dividing-board 10. For the purpose oi positively securil'ig the rod 4: in a comparatively rigid assembled position with board 10 a nut 12 is removably mounted upon the end oi. rod 4 between the pronged portion of plate The salient features oi this invention reside in the peculiar construction ol the dividing and traclvcleaning rods 4 and 4t, said rods being duplicates in construction; but they vary in size, owing to the positioning of the same upon the shoe 2 and board 10, as here-- toi ore specified. The positioning of rod or member a upon the dividing or drag board 10 in the manner shown and described obvi' ates the necessity of having the same of the same length as red or member sit, as said rod 4: is positioned nearly above rod 49 and extends to the rear of the same. Each of the rods extends rearwardly, and beginning at 13 it extends radically upwardly and outwardly, projecting farthest at 14. Thence the rod curves inwardly until it reaches its highest portion and thence inward and downward, as at 15, in a :)proximately a semicircle, terminating in an u nvard-turned, tipped, orend portion 16, which is curved inward and is formed on a level with the base of the shoe 2.

ing rods constructed in accordance with this From the foregoing it will be obvious that I l have constructed rods which extend backward, outward, and upward to a distance about the height of the ordinary standing grass or hay, and from this point they turn inward and downward in a circular form until they reach a point level with the base of a shoe or rest on the ground. The extreme end of the rod is gently curved upwardly and inwardly. The fastening means for each of the rods 4 and I is different, as hereinbefore specified; but the construction of the rods or members is similar, although the length thereof varies.

\Vhen a mower is in operation, the sicklebar of which being provided with a shoe havinvention secured thereto, the standing grass is by the outward extension of the two rods, one above the other, pressed outward from the machine and cut grass. Some of the cut grass invariably falls over against and upon the top of the upper rod and the shorter grass upon the lower rod; but by reason of the descending bend of the rod the grass tends to slide off backward, and if any accumulation occurs the rear end of the rods, with their curved tips, will slide along the ground and quickly ride upon the lower end of the accumulatedv grass and by their weight pull off the accumulated mass. The weight of the mass, if increasing, will soon bear down sufficiently to cause the lower tip of the rod to drag off the mass. The lower tip, with its inward curve on both of the rods, gives the cut grass a rolling inward motion, which clears or removes it away from the standing grass.

Owing to the peculiar construction of the rods a and I, they completely divide the cut and standing grass and turn the cut grass inward, leaving a clear path for the next swath. At the same time said rods will always clear themselves automatically.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious to one versed in the art to which this invention relates that certain alterations, modifications, and changes may be made, and I. therefore reserve the right to make such alterations, modifications, and changes as shall fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination, of a shoe provided with a plurality of flanges, one of said flanges projecting rearwardly, a rod positioned between said flanges, said rod comprising a single piece of material bent outwardly, upwardly, and downwardly and provided with an inwardly-extending upturned end, a dividing-board secured to said shoe, and a curved rod carried by said dividing-board.

2. In a device of the character described, the

l combination with a shoe, of a dividing-board having an aperture extending thereth rough secured to said shoe, a rod removabl y positioned within the apertured portion of said board, comprising a single piece of material extendingrearwardly, outwardly, and upwardly, and curved downwardly and inwardly terminating in a bent end, and a rod secured to said shoe above said rod carried by the dividing-board.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a shoe, of rods of different lengths extending rearwardl y from said shoe, each rod comprising a piece of material bent outwardly, upwardly, and downwardly, the downwardly-extending portion of said rod being bent inwardly and terminating in an upward-turned end.

4L. In a device of the character described, the combination with a shoe, of a plurality of rods extending rearwardly therefrom, said rods of different lengths, and of similar construction, each rod having its free end positioned in the same horizontal plane.

5. The combination with a support, of a rod of the character described, secured to said support, said rod comprising a piece of material bent outwardly, upwardly, and downwardly, the downwardly-extending portion of said rod projecting below the horizontal plane in which the forward end of the rod is secured, said downwardly-extending portion being bent inwardly and terminating in an upward-turned end.

6. In adevice of the characterdescribed, the combination with a shoe, of rods of different lengths and of similar construction extending from said shoe, the free ends of said rods extending below the horizontal plane of the secured ends thereof.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination, of a shoe provided with parallel flanges, a rod secured between said flanges, a dividing-board secured to said shoe, a rod carried by said board, said rods of similar construction and having their free ends curved downwardly and terminating below the plane in which the opposite ends of the rods are secured.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a shoe, of a rod secured to said shoe, said rod provided with a portion curved downward and terminating in an up ward-turned end, said end being formed below the front secured end of the rod, and auxiliary dividing and turning means assembled with said rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY F. HUDSON.

\Vitncsses:

(1. \VARD KEMP, L. C. MAssIE. 

